Jim and Rhonda Chapman from O’Fallon, Mo., caught them a couple nice striped bass Sunday, which was good fishing with a northeast wind. The north is not that bad but when you have the east with it I have noticed over the years they don’t bite as well. I believe part of the old saying holds true: Wind from the east fish bite the least, wind from the north don’t go forth, wind from the west fish bite the best, wind from the south puts the bait in their mouth.
It held true this last week with this cold front blowing in two days before and no fish that day which was the first time since the stripers moved up to our end of the lake. Their day was the 3rd day after it came in and settled. The fish still have to eat no matter which way the wind is blowing. Which leads to change on a front, it is best to fish before a front comes in or after it settles and is stable
Water temp on Beaver Lake is running about 87° with the thermocline running about 28 ft., so most the bait and fish in the dam area we are marking are between 28 – 38 ft. deep in water more than 60 ft. deep. Stripers are liking the big shad best. Trolling deep diving baits or umbrella rigs are also catching a few, along with jigging a spoon or jig.
Here at Holiday Island in Table Rock the surface temp is about the same, but our deepest water here is about 40 ft. deep so the best fishing, whether for crappie, walleye, bass or bigger perch, is from 12 ft. deep on down off the edges of the points and flats or going up the river in the afternoons if they’re generating, which has been after 2 p.m. on weekdays. They seem to not move as much on the weekends, so weekdays are best for the afternoon bite with worms and minnows both being good live baits.
Trolling or throwing crankbaits can find them, but you should see pods of little shad on top before the fish hit them. Since this is up above Beaver, don’t be surprised if you hook into s big trout, also. You don’t need a trout stamp this side of Houseman Access, but you do have to release any trout you catch if you don’t have one.
Well, that’s it for this week, enjoy this cooler weather and take a kid fishing before their summer is over.
Johnson Guide Service (479) 253-2258.